Herman Cain’s chief of staff, Mark Block, is still buzzing from a viral campaign ad on YouTube featuring some quick camera work, enthusiastic claims and a close shot of Block taking one long drag from a cigarette.

On Fox News’ “America Live,” Block said the ad simply means to convey that Cain’s campaign is “on a roll,” stressing it had an office and operations in Iowa and other early states:

“There was no subliminal message. In fact, I personally would encourage people not to smoke. It’s just that I’m a smoker. A lot of the people on the staff said ‘Just let Block be Block.’ That’s what it was all about. …

“I tell you, you walk into a veterans’ bar in Iowa and they’re sitting around smoking and you know we are resonating with them. I’m not the only one that smokes in America, for God’s sake. It was a choice I made and it was at the end of the ad. The real message that we’re trying to get through was the Cain train is on a roll.”

Update: Actually, Jennifer Jacobs clarifies that it’s only legal to smoke in some Iowa veterans’ bars. The state smoking ban that went into law June 2009 includes most all public places. Private clubs with a fraternal or patriotic purpose and no employees, however, are exempt.